Oxo-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated alkylated fatty acids and esters

ABSTRACT

PREPARATION OF NOVEL OXO-SUBSTITUTED A,B-UNSATURATED ESTERS AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF USEFUL AS LUBRICANTS, PLASTICIZERS AND INSECT CONTROL AGENTS.

United States Patent w US. Cl. 260-4103 R 8 Claims ABSCT 0F Tim DISCLOSURE Preparation of novel oxo-substituted a, 8-unsaturated esters and derivatives thereof useful as lubricants, plasticizers and insect control agents.

This invention relates to novel oxo-substituted rag/3- unsaturated esters, derivatives thereof, the control of insects, and synthesis of the novel compounds.

The novel esters of the present invention and derivatives thereof are represented by the following Formula A:

m is a positive integer of one to five;

n is zero or a positive integer of one to four;

R is oxygen atom or cycloethylenedioxy;

each of R and R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having a chain length of one to five carbon atoms;

R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having a chain length of one to six carbon atoms;

R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having a chain length of one to six carbon atoms;

R is lower alkyl having a chain length of one to six carbon atoms; and

R is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or a metal.

The term alkyl, as used herein, refers to a straight or branched chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having a chain length of one to twelve carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, n-hexyl, namyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, lauryl, n-decyl, t-amyl, 3-ethylpentyl and Z-methylhexyl. The term lower alkyl, as used herein, refers to a primary or secondary alkyl group, branched or straight chain. The term lower alky however, when used in defining the group R includes tertiary alkyl groups. The term cycloalkyl, as used herein, refers to a cycloalkyl group of four to eight carbon atoms, i.e. cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl. The term aralkyl, as used herein, refers to an aralkyl group of seven to twelve carbon atoms, such as benzyl, phenylethyl, methylbenzyl and naphthyhnethyl. The term metal, as used herein, refers to lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, copper, manganese and zinc. The term aryl, as used herein, refers to an aryl group of six to twelve carbon atoms, such as phenyl, naphthyl, methylphenyl, ethylphenyl, and the like.

The compounds of Formula A, including the cycloethylene ketals, are useful for the control of insects. The utility of these compounds as insect control agents is believed to be attributable to their juvenile hormone activity. They are preferably applied to the immature insect, namely-during the embryo, larvae of pupae stage in view of their ability to inhibit metamorphosis and otherwise cause abnormal development. These compunds are effective control agents for Hemipteran insects, such as Lygaeidae, Miridae and Pyrrhocoridae; Lepidopteran in- 3,7434% Patented July Bl, 1973 ice sects, such as Pyralidae, Noctiidae and Gelechiidae; and Coleopteran; such as Tenebrionidae; and Dipteran. The compounds can be applied at low dosage levels of the order of 0.001 ,eg. to 15.0 g. per insect. Suitable carrier substances include liquid or solid carriers, such as water, mineral or vegetable oils, talc, vermiculite, natural and synthetic resins and silica. Treatment of insects in accordance with the present invention is accomplished by spraying, dusting or exposing the insects to the vapor of the compounds of Formula A. Generally, a concentration of less than 25% of the active compound is employed. The formulations can include insect attractants, emulsifying agents or wetting agents to assist in the application and efiectiveness of the active ingredient. In the application of the compounds, there is generally employed a mixture of the C-2,3 trans and cis isomers, the C2,3 trans isomer being the preferred embodiment for the control of insects.

In the description following and hereinafter, each of n, m, R R R R and R is defined as hereinabove and R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl.

The novel esters of the present invention are prepared according to the following outlined synthesis.

In the practice of the above-outlined synthesis, a methyl ketone (I) is alkylated using an organo-copper complex prepared from cuprous salt, e.g. cuprous halide and lower alkylmagnesium halide or lower alkyl lithium to form the ketone (11) wherein n is zero. The organo complex can be formed as described by Siddall et al., J. Am.

Chem. Soc. 91, 1853 (1969) and Anderson et al., ibid. 92, 735 (1970). The ketones of Formula II wherein n is a positive integer of one to four can be prepared according to procedures described in copending application Ser. No. 879,620, filed Nov. 24, 1969, now abandoned the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The methyl ketone (II) is reacted with an aldehyde using Aldol conditions to yield the unsaturated ketone (III). A ketone of Formula III is then alkylated using an organo-copper complex (wherein the organo group is R CH=CH-(CH formed from cuprous salt and organo-lithium or organo-magnesium halide. A compound of Formula IV is then reacted with a mercuric salt, such as mercuric acetate, mercuric chloride, mercuric trifiuoroacetate or mercuric nitrate, in the presence of water to form the mercuric salt of V which is reduced using sodium borohydride, sodium amalgam, hydrazines, or the like, to yield the hydroxyl (V). When R is lower alkyl, the reaction results in introduction of the hydroxy group at two positions so as to form the compounds of Formula V as well as those of Formula V:

The compounds (V and V) can be separated by chromatography or fractional distillation, if desired. A hydroxy compound of Formula V is then oxidized using I ones reagent, manganese dioxide, or the like, to yield the diketone (VI). The di-ketone (VI) is converted into the a e-unsaturated ester (A') by reaction with phosphonate anion, e.g. carbanion of dialkyl carbalkoxymethylphosphonate or by Wittig reaction. The esters (A'), e.g. the alkyl esters, are converted into the corresponding acid (A; R is hydrogen) by hydrolysis with base. Other esters of the present invention can be prepared by transesterification or by conversion of the acid into the acid halide by treatment with thionyl chloride, oxalyl chloride or the bromide and then reacting the halide with the alcohol corresponding to the ester moiety desired. The cycloethylene ketals of the present invention are prepared by treatment of the ketone (R is an oxygen atom) with ethylene glycol in organic solvent, such as toluene, in the presence of acid catalyst, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid. Instead of introducing the ketal group after formation of a compound of Formula A, the ketal group can be introduced earlier on the ketone (IV) or (V). To retain the ketal group on a compound of Formula VI, oxidation of the hydroxyl (V or V) should be done using activated manganese dioxide or the chromic acid-pyridine complex to avoid the acid conditions of oxidizing agents, such as Jones reagent, which will completely or partially remove the ketal group.

The compounds of Formula A in addition to their utility as insect control agents are useful chemical intermediates, plasticizers for hydrocarbon polymers and lubricants for plastics and metals. The compounds of Formulas III, IV, V, V and VI are useful in chemical syntheses in general, such as preparation of perfumery agents, and are useful odorants for perfumery.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the preparation of the compounds of the present invention. Temperature is given in degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 (A) to 19 g. of cuprous iodide in 40 ml. of ether, -20 under nitrogen, is added 70 ml. of ethylmagnesium bromide (3 M) and 20 ml. of ether. After about 20 minutes, g. of mesityl oxide in 10 ml. of ether is added slowly. The reaction is allowed to proceed until starting material disappears as indicated by vapor phase chroma- .4 tography. The mixture is poured into iced ammonium chloride solution and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are washed until neutral and evaporated to yield 4,4-dimethylhexan-2-one which is purified by distillation.

The foregoing procedure is repeated using each of methylmagnesium bromide, n-propylmagnesium bromide, i-propylmagnesium bromide and n-butylmagnesium bromide in place of ethylmagnesium bromide to yield 4,4-dimethylpenta 2 one,4,4-dimethylheptan-Z-one, 4,4,5-trimethylhexan 2 one and 4,4 dimethyloctan-2-one, respectively.

(B) 40 milliliters of n-butyl lithium (1.6 M in hexane) is added slowly to a stirred solution of 13 ml. of bis(trimethylsilyl) amide in 20 ml. of ether and refluxed for 30 minutes. Tetrahydrofuran (10 ml.) is then added to form a solution of lithium bis (trimethylsilyDamide.

To 5 g. of 4,4-dimethylhexan-2-one in 4 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, 78 under nitrogen, is added slowly 50 ml. of the above solution. After about 10 minutes, 5 g. of propionaldehyde is added slowly. After about 30 minutes at 78, the reaction is allowed to rise to 0. The mixture is extracted with ether and the ether extracts washed with water and brine. Fractional distillation with vigreux column yields 7,7-dimethylnon-3-en-5-one.

The foregoing process is repeated using each of the other quaternary alkyl ketones of Part A as the starting material to yield 7,7-dimethyloct-3-en-5-one, 7,7-dimethyldec-3-en-5-one, 7,7,8-trimethylnon-3-en-5-one and 7,7- dimethylundec-3-en-5-one, respectively.

(C) To 2.5 g. of magnesium in 20 ml. of ether, under nitrogen, is added a crystal of iodine and 5 drops of 1- bromopent-4-ene. When the reaction starts, there is then added additional 1-bromopent-4-ene for a total of 15 grams. After about 0.5 hour, temperature is lowered to 30 and cuprous iodide (19 g.) is added. Reaction mixture is left until negative Gilman test obtained and 11 g. of 7,7-dimethylnon-3-en-5-one is added. About five minutes after addition is complete, the mixture is poured into ice-cold ammonium chloride and after one hour, extracted with ether. The ether extracts are washed, dried and evaporated to yield 6-ethyl-10,l0-dimethyldodec-1- en-8-one which is purified by distillation.

The foregoing process is repeated using each of the unsaturated ketones of Part B as the starting material to yield 6-ethy1-l0,lO-dimethylundec-1-en-8-one, 6-ethyl-l0, l0 dimethyltridec-1-en-8-one, 6-ethy1-l0,l0,ll-trimethyl dodec-l-en-8-one and 6-ethyl-l0,10-dimethyltetradec-len-S-one, respectively.

(D) To 3.2 g. of mercury acetate in 10 ml. of water is added 10 ml. of tetrahydrofuran followed by 2.2 g. of 6- ethyl-l0,lO-dimethyldodec-l-en-8-one in a few ml. of tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is stirred about 45 minutes and then 10 ml. of 10% sodium hydroxide is added followed by 10 ml. of a solution of 400 mg. of sodium borohydride in 10 ml. of 10% sodium hydroxide. After addition is complete, mixture is stirred five minutes and allowed to stand several hours at 5. The layers are separated and ether backwash of water layer combined with organic layer. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to yield 6-ethyl-10,l0-dimethyl-8- oxododecan-2-ol which can be purified by distillation.

By use of the foregoing procedure, each of the unsaturated ketones of Part C is converted into the corresponding hydroxyl compound, namely- 6-ethyl-8-oxo-10, IO-dimethylundecan-Z-ol, 6-ethyl-8-oxo-l0, lO-dimethyltridecan-Z-ol, 6-ethyl-8-oxo-l0,10-trimethyldodecan-2-ol and 6-ethy1- 10,lO-dimethyl-8-oxo-tetradecan-2-ol.

(E) To a mixture of 8.0 g. of 6-ethyl-10,10-dimethyl- 8-oxododecan-2-ol in 300 ml. of acetone is added about 7.5 ml. of Jones Reagent (8 N) slowly stirring. After about 1.5 hours, the mixture is poured into saturated sodium chloride and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 6-ethyl-10,10-dimethyldodeca-2,8-dione.

The procedure of this process is repeated using each of the hydroxy compounds of Part D as the starting material to yield 6-ethyl-10,lO-dimethylundeca-Z,S-dione, 6-ethyl-l0, lO-dimethyltrideca-Z,8-dione, 6-ethy1-10,10,11-trimethyldodeca-2,8-dione and 6-ethyl-l0,10-dimethyltetradeca-2,8-dione,

respectively.

(F) To 1.3 g. of sodium hydride (57% in oil) previously washed with pentane, under nitrogen, is added 50 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran and then, after cooling to 0, is added 7.2 g. of triethyl phosphonoacetate dropwise. The mixture is then stirred for 30 minutes and then added dropwise over about one hour to 6.7 g. of 6-ethyl-10,10-dimethyldodeca-Z,S-dione at room temperature with stirring. The mixture is stirred overnight. Additional phosphonoacetate am'on solution is prepared as before from 25 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, 1.8 g. of triethyl phosphonoacetate and 0.32 g. of sodium hydride. This is added over one hour to the above reaction mixture and then the total mixture stirred for 20.5 hours. The mixture is poured in to 300 ml. of saturated sodium chloride at 0. The layers are separated and the organic phase with ether backwash of brine layer is dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to yield cis and trans ethyl 3,1 1,1 1 l-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec-Z-enoate which is purified and separated by chromatography followed by distillation.

By use of the foregoing procedure, each of the 2,8- diones is converted into the corresponding 9-oxo ethyl ester, namely cis/trans ethyl 3,11,11-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethy1dodec- 2-enoate,

cis/trans ethyl 3,11,11-trimethyl-7-ethyl-9-oxotetradec- 2-enoate,

cis/trans ethyl 3,11,1I,12-tetramethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec- Z-enoate and cis/trans ethyl 3,11,11-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethylpentadec- Z-enoate,

respectively.

By repeating the foregoing process using the anion of diethyl carbomethoxymethylphosphonate, the corresponding cis/ trans methyl esters are obtained, such as cis/ trans methyl 3,1l,11-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec 2 enoate from 6-ethyl-10,10-dimethyldodeca-2,8-dione.

EXAMPLE 2 A mixture of 1 g. of methyl 3,l1,11-trimethyl-7-ethyl- 9-oxotridec-2-enoate, 60 ml. of methanol, 0.7 g. of sodium carbonate and 6 ml. of water is stirred at about 30 for twelve hours. The mixture is diluted with Water, neutralized and extracted with ether. The ethereal phase is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to yield 3,11,l1-trimethyl-7-ethyl-9-oxo-tridec-2-enoic acid.

Using the foregoing procedure, the other esters of Example 1 are hydrolyzed to the free acid (cis/trans), namely- 3,1 1,1 1-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyldodec-Z-enoic acid,

3,1 1,1 1-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltetradec-2-enoic acid,

3,1 1,1 1,12-tetramethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec-2-enoic acid and 3, 11, 1 l-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethylpentadec-2-enoic acid,

respectively.

EXAMPLE 3 One gram of thionyl chloride is added with stirring at room temperature to 0.5 g. of 3,11,11-trimethyl-7-ethyl- 9-oxotridec-2-enoic acid and the mixture heated at about 50 for 10 minutes. Excess thionyl chloride is removed by evaporation and then t-butyl alcohol (about two equivalents) is added and the mixture heated at about 50 for five minutes. Excess t-butyl alcohol is removed by evaporation to yield t-butyl 3,1l,11-trimethy1-7-ethyl- 9-oxotridec-2-enoate which is purified by chromatography.

By using other alcohols in the foregoing procedure, such as cyclohexyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, phenol, n-pentanol or i-propanol, the corresponding esters are obtained, such as the cyclohexyl ester, benzyl ester, phenyl ester, n-pentyl ester and i-propyl ester. Other esters of Formula A are similarly prepared from the acid chloride or acid bromide.

EXAMPLE 4 To a solution of 0.5 g. of 3,1l,ll-trimethyl-7-ethyl-9- oxotridec-Z-enoic acid in 15 ml. of benzene is added with stirring an equivalent amount of potassium carbonate. The mixture is stirred until the evolution of carbon dioxide ceases and then is evaporated to yield potassium 3,1 1,1 l-trimethyl-7-ethyl-9-oxotridec-2-enoate.

Alternatively, acid salts can be prepared by titrating the acid with an organic solution of the desired base.

EXAMPLE 5 A mixture of 5 g. of ethyl 3,1l,ll-trimethyl-7-ethyl- 9-oxotridec-2-enoate, 1.5 equivalents of ethylene glycol and 250 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate in 200 ml. of toluene is refluxed for eight hours under Dean- Stark apparatus with continuous removal of water. The mixture is then cooled, neutralized by addition of sodium carbonate, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield ethyl 3,11,11-trimethyl- 7 -ethyl-9,9-cycloethylenedioxytridec-2-enoate which is purified by chromatography.

EXAMPLE 6 A mixture of 6-ethyl-8,8-cycloethylenedioxy-10,10-di methyldodecan-Z-ol (2 g.), manganese dioxide (10 g.) and 30 ml. of methylene chloride is prepared by the slow addition of manganese dioxide so that the temperature does not exceed about 30. The mixture is then shaken for about 40 hours in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The mixture is then filtered and the solid washed with ether. The filtrate and washings are combined and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 6-ethyl-8,8 cycloethylenedioxy-l0,IO-dimethyldodecan-Z-one which can be purified by chromatography.

Jones reagent, as used herein, is prepared by mixing 66.7 g. of chromium trioxide and 53 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid and then diluting with water up to a total volume of 250 ml.

EXAMPLE 7 (A) By use of the procedure of Example 1 (A), each of but-3-en-2-one, pent-3-en-2-one and hept-3-en-2-one, as the starting material, is converted into hexan-2-one, 4-mlethylheXan-2-0ne and 4-ethylheptan-2-one, respective y.

(B) Each of saturated ketones of Part A is used as the starting material in the procedure of Example 1 (B) to yield non-3-en-5-one, 7-methylnon-3-en-5-one and 7-ethyldec-3-en-5-one, respectively, which are used as the starting material in the process of Example 1 (C) to yield 6-ethyldodec-l-en-8-one, *6 ethyl-IO-methyldodec-1-en-8- one and -6,10 diethyltridec-l-en-8-one, respectively.

(C) Each of the *S-keto compounds of Part B is subject to the process of Example 1 (D) to yield 6-ethyl-8- oxododecan-Z-ol, 6-ethyl 10 methyl-8-oxododecan-2-ol and 6,lO-diethyl-8-oxotridecan-2-ol, each of which is oxidized according to the procedure of Example 1 (E) to yield 6-ethyldodeca-2,8-dione, =6-ethyl-l0-methyldodeca- 2,8-dione and 6,l0-diethyltrideca-2,S-dione, respectively.

(D) The 2,8-diones of 'Part C are reacted with the anion of diethyl carbethoxymethylphosphonate using the procedure of Example 1 (F) to yield the corresponding cis/trans ethyl esters, i.e. cis/trans of ethyl 9-oxo-3- methyl 7 ethyltridec 2 enoate, ethyl 3,ll-dimethyl-7- 7 ethyl-9-oxotridec 2 enoate and ethyl 3-methyl-7,l1-diethyl-9-oxotetradec-2-enoate, respectively.

EXAMPLE 8 Propionaldehyde is reacted with 5,5-dimethylhexan-2- one using the process of Example 1 (B) to yield 8,8- dimethylnon-3-en-5-one which is used as the starting material in the process of Example 1 (C) to yield 6-ethyl- 11,1l-dimethyldodec-l-en- 8-one. The thus-obtained l-en- 8-one compound is treated with mercuric acetate followed by sodium borohydride to yield 6-ethyl-1l,1l-dimethyldodecan-Z-ol which is oxidized to 6-ethyl-11,11- dimethyldodeca-2,8-dione. The dione is converted to cis/ trans ethyl 3,l2,1Z-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec-Z-enoate using the procedure of Example 1 (F) EXAMPLE 9 One gram of 3,11-dimethyl-7-ethyl-9-ox0tridec-2-en0ic acid in 30 ml. of benzene and 1 mol of sodium hydride is stirred about two hours and then a slight excess of oxalyl chloride is added at about and stirred for one hour. The product is worked up by removal of solvent in vacuo and extraction with pentane to yield 3,11-dimethyl- 7-ethyl-9-oxotridec-2-enoic acid chloride.

EXAMPLE 10 (A) Each of the saturated ket0nes-4,4-dimethylhexan- 2-0ne, 4,4-dimethylpentan 2 one, 4,4-dimethylheptan-2- one, hexan-Z-one, 4-methylhexan-2-one, 4-ethylheptan-2- one and 5,5-dimethylhexan-2-one is reacted with acetaldehyde using the procedure of Example 1 (B) to yield the corresponding unsaturated ketonei.e. 6,6-dimethyl oct-2-en-4-one, 6,6-dimethylhept-2-en-4-one, 6,6-dimethyl non-2-en-4-one, oct-2-en-4-one, 6-methyloct-2-en-4-one, 6-ethylnon-2-en-4-one and 7,7-dimethyloct-2-en-4-one, respectively.

(B) The thus-obtained unsaturated ketones of Part A are used as the starting material in the procedure of EX- ample 1 (C) to yield the corresponding 1-en-8 keto compoundsnamely,

6,10, IO-trimethyldodec-1-en-8-one,

6, l 0, 1 O-trimethylundecl-en-S-one, 6,10,lO-trimethyltridec-l-en-S-one, 6-methyldodec-1-en-8-one,

6, lO-dimethyldodecl-en-8-one, 6-methyl-10-ethyltriclecl-en-S-one and 6,1l,1l-trimethyldodec-1-en-8-one,

respectively.

(C) Each of the 8-oxo compounds of Part B is reacted with mercuric acetate followed by sodium borohydride using the procedure of Example 1 (D) to yield the corresponding C2 alcohol-narnely,

6,10, IO-trimethyl-8-oxododecan-2-ol, 6,10,l0-trimethyl-8-oxoundecan-2-ol, 6,10, lO-trimethyl-8-oxotridecan-2-ol, 6-methyl-8-oxododecan-Z-ol, 6,10-dimethyl-8-oxododecan-2-ol, 6-methyl-IO-ethyltridecan-Z-ol and 6,11,11-trimethyl-8-oxododecan-2-ol,

respectively. Oxidation of the thus-obtained C-2 alcohols using Jones reagent yields the corresponding diketonesi.e.

6,10,10-trimethyldodeca-Z,8-dione, 6,10,10-trimethylundeca-Z,S-dione, 6,10,IO-trimethyltrideca-Z,8-dione, 6-methyldodeca-2,8-dione, 6,lO-dimethyldodeca-Z,8-dione, 6-methyl-10-ethyltrideca-2, 8-dione and 6,11,1 l-trimethyldodeca-Z, 8-dione,

respectively.

(D) Each of the diketones is reacted with the anion of diethyl carbethoxymethylphosphonate using the procedure of Example 1 (F) to yield the corresponding cis/ trans a,fl-unsaturated ethyl esternamely,

ethyl 3,7,1 1,1 1-tetramethyl-9-oxotridec-Z-enoate,

ethyl 3,7,1 1,1 1-tetramethyl-9-oxododec-2-enoate,

ethyl 3,7,1 1,11-tetramethyl-9-oxotetradec-2-enoate, ethyl 3,7-diinethyl-9-oxotridec-2-enoate,

ethyl 3,7, 1 1-trimethyl-9-oxotridec-2-enoate,

ethyl 3,7-dimethyl-11-ethyl-9-oxotetradec-Z-enoate and ethyl 3,7,12,lZ-tetramethyltridec-Z-enoate,

respectively. Similarly, the methyl esters are obtained by reaction of the diketones with the anion of diethyl carbomethoxymethylphosphonate.

EXAMPLE 11 Each of the unsaturated ketones of Example 10(A) is reacted with the Grignard of 1-bromobut-3-ene according to the procedure of Example 1(C) to yield 5 ,9,9,-dimethylundec-1-en-7-one, 5,9,9-trimethyldec-1-en-7-one, 5,9,9-trimethyldodec-1-en-7-one, S-methylundec-l-en-7-one, 5,9-dimethylundec-1-en-7-one, 5-methyl-9-ethyldodec-1-en-7-one and 5, l0,IO-trimethylundec-1-en-7-one,

respectively. Each of the thus-obtained 1-en-7-one compounds is used as the starting material in the process of Example 1(D) to yield the corresponding C-2 alcohol which is oxidized to the corresponding 2,7-dione and then reacted with the anion of diethyl carbet'hoxymethylphosphonate to yield the cis/ trans a,fl-unsaturated ethyl esternamely,

ethyl 3 ,6,10,10-tetramethyl-8-oxododec-2-enoate, ethyl 3 ,6,10, lO-tetramethyl-'8-oxoundec-2-enoate, ethyl 3 ,6,10,10-tetramethyl-8-oxotridec-2-enoate, ethyl 3,6-dimethyl-8-oxododec-2-enoate,

ethyl 3,6,10-trimethyl-8-oxododec-2-enoate,

ethyl 3,6-dimethyl-10-ethyl-8-oxotridec-2-enoate and ethyl 3,6,11,11-tetramethyl-8-oxododec-2-enoate,

respectively.

EXAMPLE 12 (A) Each of the unsaturated ketones of Example 10(A) is reacted with the Grignard of 1-bromohex-4-ene using the procedure of Example 1(C) to yield 7,11,1 1-trimethyltridec-2-en-9-one, 7,11,11-trimethyldodec-2-en-9-one,

7,1 1,1 1-trimethyltetradec-2-en-9-one, 7-methyltridec-2-en-9-one, 7,11-dimethyltridec-2-en-9-one, 7-methyl-11-ethyltetradec-2-en-9-one and 7,l2,12-trimethyltridec-2-en-9-one, respectively.

respectively.

(C) Each of the diketones of Part C is reacted with the anion of diethyl carbethoxymethylphosphonate to yield the corresponding cis/trans il-unsaturated ethyl ester, i.e.

ethyl 3-ethyl-7 ,1 1,11-trimethyl-9-oxotridec-2-enoate, ethyl 3,8,12,12-tetramethy1-l0 oxotetradec-2-enoate, ethyl 3-ethyl-7, 1 1,1 1-trimethyl-9 oxododec-2-enoate, ethyl 3,8,12,12-tetramethyl--oxotridec-2-enoate, ethyl 3-ethyl-7,l 1,1 l-trimethyl-9*-oxotetradec-2-enoate, ethyl 3,8,12,12-tetramethyl-ltl-oxopentadec-Z-enoate, ethyl 3-ethyl-7,11-dimethyl-9=oxotridee-Z-enoate, ethyl 3,8,12-trimethyl-10-oxotetradec-2-enoate, ethyl 3-ethyl-7-methyl-11-ethyl-9 oxotetradec-2-enoate, ethyl 3,8-dimethyl-12-ethyl-lO-oxopentadec-Z-enoate, ethyl 3-ethyl-7,12,12-trimethyl-9-oxotridec-2-enoate and ethyl 3,8,13,1B-tetramethyl-IO-oxotetradec-Z-enoate, respectively.

What is claimed is:

1. A compound selected from those of the following formula:

wherein: each of R and R is hydrogen or methyl; each of R R and R is methyl or ethyl; R is hydrogen or lower alkyl; m is the positive integer two, three or four; and n is zero or the positive integer one, two or three.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein m is three; 11 is zero; and R is hydrogen.

3. The compound, methyl 3,11,11-trimethyl-9-oxo-7- ethyltridec-Z-enoate, according to claim 2.

4. The compound, ethyl 3,ll,1l-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec-Z-enoate, according to claim 2.

5. The compound, 3,11,11-trimethyl-9-oxo-7-ethyltridec-Z-enoic acid, according to claim 2.

6. A compound according to claim 2 wherein R is hydrogen and each of R and R is methyl.

7. The compound, ethyl 3,7,l1,1l-tetramethyl-9-ox0- tridec-Z-enoate, according to claim 6.

8. The compound, ethyl 3,7,11,11-tetramethyl-9-0x0- dodec-Z-enoate, according to claim 6.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,177,226 4/1965 Stilz et al 260-3405 3,006,939 10/ 1961 Pommer et al 260-413 3,052,730 9/1962 Eschinazi 260-6315 3,669,997 6/1972 Calame et al. 260-4109 R LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner D. G. RIVERS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

260-408, 410, 410.5, 340.9, 413, 414, 431, 593 R, 594, 32.2; 252-56 S, 522; 424-278, 312, 318; 424-DIG. 12 

